Control apparatus



I.. G. RILEY.

CONTROL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED ocT. 6. 1915.

Patented Apr. 13, 1920.'

INVENTOR wITNEssEs: 2,

TTONEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LYNN Gr. RILEY, OF WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TOIVESTINGrI-IOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OFPENNSYLVANIA.

CONTROL APPARATUS.

Application led October 6. 1915.

To all 107mm t may' concern:

Be it known that I, LYNN Gr. RILEY, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of llfrilkinsburg, in the county of Allegheny and Estate ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Control iApparatus, of which the following is a speciti 'at-ion.

My invention relates to control apparatus, and it has special referenceto controllers ofthe drum type that are adapted for governing electricrailway motors and the like.

The object of my invention is to provide a relatively simple andinexpensive device of the above-indicated character which shall beadapted to increase the speed of contact-making and breaking within thecontroller, whereby the formation of destructive arcs, welding ofcontact surfaces and other injurious conditions may be obviated.

More specifically stated, it is the object of my invention to provide,in connection with a controller of the drum type, a positionaccentuatingmeans ofthe usual type which shall be adapted to actuate the controlfingers toward and away from the cooperating contact segments of thecontroller under predetermined conditions.

t is well known to those skilled in the art that the amount ofdestructive arcing which takes place when a circuit is made or brokenwithin a controller varies in an inverse ratio to the relative speed ofthe cooperating contact members at the instant that the circuit is madeor broken. In many prior controllers of the type wherein the contactsee-ment is rotated and the coperating control fingers remainstationary, the relatively low speed of contact-making has, in someeases, eiiected a welding of the parts by reason of the high resistanceof the initial line contact before complete oo ntact is established.Moreover, when the circuit has been broken, injurious arcs have beencreated, which has resulted in the burning and pitting of the contactmembers.

According to my present invention, I provide means for obviating theabove-inentioned ditculties by materially increasing the relative speedof contact-making and breaking of control fingers land contact segmentswithin controllers of the drum type. To eifect the desired result, thelinger-base Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

serial No. 54,342.

for supporting the control lingers is movably mounted upon the controldrum proper, and the pawl that comprises, together with a suitablestar-wheel, the customary position-accentuating means for the controldrum., is mechanically associated with the linger-base to effectmovement thereof toward and away from the control drum when the drum isoperated out of and into its olf position, respectively, thereby greatlyincreasing the relative approaching and receding speeds of the controllingers and contact segments, as hereinafter more fully described.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure l is a view in transverse sectiontaken along the line I--I of Fig. 2, which is a view in elevation of aportion of a drum-controlling device constructed in accordance with' iinvention, the cover .being removed.

Referring to the drawing, the structure shown comprises a suitableincasing member or cover l which is associated with a suitableback-plate la, in accordance with customary practice; a switchingdevice, here shown as a control drum CD of a familiar type, that islocated within the cover l; a linger-base FB that is associated with thecontrol drum CD in a manner to be described; and positionaccentuatingmeans PA for the control drum CD.

The control drum @D is provided with a centrally located shaft 2 thathas its lower end supported within a suitable bearing block 3, the upperendof the shaft extending through an appropriate bearing bushing -lwithin the incasin g member l; and a familiar handle member 5 isassociated with the upper end of the shaft 2 outside of the cover l.Interoonnected contact segments (i, of a cont-our suitable for thepurpose intended, are associated with theshaft 2 of the control drum inany appropriate manner and are adapted to rotatively engage a pluralityof suitable control lingers F that are mounted upon the linger board FB,in accordance with a familiar practice, and are respectively connectedLto conductors C to complete the desired circuit connections.

-The linger board EB is here shown as being trapezoidal in section, anda plurality of suitable bracket members or arms 7 and 8 are respectivelysecured to the ends of the finger-boa rd by means of suitable screws 9or their equivalent, the arms 7 and 8 being provided with apertured endsthrough which the shaft 2 loosely extends. The finger board FB is thusrotatively mounted upon the control drum CD for a purpose to be setforth later.

The position-accentuating means PA comprises a star-wheel 10, of afamiliar form, that is rigidly associated with the shaft 2 intermediatethe bearing block 3 and the bracket member 8, and a pawl member 11 thatis adapted to engage the notched periphery of the star-wheel. Notches12, 13, 14, 15, etc., are provided in the outer edge of the star-wheel10 to respectively correspond to the control positions of the drum, aswill be understood, the end notch 12 that corresponds to the offposition of the controller being deeper than any of the other notches,for a purpose to be explained.

The pawl member 11 is provided with an intermediate outwardly extendingarm 16 that is disposed slightly above the plane of the remainder of thepawl member, as best shown in Fig. 2, and the pawl member, as a whole,is pivoted at a point 17 opposite the arm 16, upon a suitable pedestalor block 18 that is suitably associated with the base 1b of thecontroller. A suitable roller 19 is associated with oneend of the pawlmember 11 to engage the notches of the starwheel, in accordance withcustomary practice, and a suitable helical spring 2O is disposedintermediate the other end 21 of the pawl member and a point 22 of thebackplate 1a to bias the roller 19 to engagement with the variousnotches, as will be understood.

To effect movement of the finger base FB through the agency of theposition-accentuating means PA, the arm 16 is provided, near its outerend,- with a suitable pin or stud 23, the free end of which is locatedwithin a slot or opening 24 of the bracket member 8, whereby a suitablepin andslot connection is establisl ed intermediate the pawl member 11anc the finger base FB. However, it will be understood that any othersutiable mechanical connection between the two parts just mentioned maybe employed, if desired.

Although, for the sake of simplicity and clearness, I have omitted fromthe drawing the customarily employed reversing switch and otherassociated structural details which are not material to my presentinvention, it will be appreciated that such apparatus is normallyemployed in connection with my invention.

Assuming the parts to occupy the positions shown, the operation of theapparatus may be set forth as follows Upon movement of the control drumCD in a clockwise direction by means of the handle member 5, asindicated by the arrow, the star-wheel 10 gradually forces the roller 19out of the initial or offposition notch 12 along that portion of thesurface of the star-wheel which lies intermediate the notches 12 and 13.rl`he pawl member 11 is thus actuated around the pivotal point 17 in acounterclock-wise direction, whereby the pin 23 engages one side of theslot 24 and effects rotative movement of the finger-board FB and theassociated control fingers F toward the approaching contact segment 6 ofthe control drum. In this way, the speed of contact-making within thecontroller attains a. relatively rapid rate, and all danger of weldingof the control fingers and contact segments is obviated. Thearrai'lgement of parts is such that` the roller 19 just passes the crestof the surface lying intermediate the notches 12 and 13 when contact isestablished between the control fingers and the contact segments.

The pawl member 11 then rotates through a relatively small angle in theclock-wise direction as the notch 13 approaches the roller 19. However,by reason of the arrangement of parts and the difference in theoperating radii of the roller 19 and the finger base FB, the controlfingers F drop back at a speed somewhat less than the velocity of thedrum as the roller 19 approaches the notch 13, so that contact is stillmaintained. Inasmuch as the initial notch 12 is deeper than thesucceeding notches, the movement of the pawl member 11 and thefinger-base FB, during the remainder of the forward operation of thecontrol drum, is relatively slight, as will be understood.

In other words, the pawl member 11 oscillates around the pivotal point17, while the finger base FB and, therefore, the fingers F have a motionof pure rotation around the drum shaft 2. Consequently, the actualcontact between the fingers F and the drum segment 6 is not affected bymovement of the roller 19 into successive notches 13, 14, etc.

W hen the control drum is returned toward its off position, so that theroller 19 gradually drops into the relatively deep notch 12, the pawlmember 11 is rotated through a relatively large angle in a clockwisedirection, whereby the pin-and-slot connection between the pawl memberand the finger-base causes the control lfingers F to move away from thereceding contact segment 6, and the speed of separation of thecooperating contact members, as the drum reaches its off position, isrelatively great, thus preventing the formation of the destructive arcshereinbefore referred to.

I do not wish to be restricted to the specific structural details orarrangement and location of parts herein set forth, as variousmodifications thereof may be effected without departing from the spiritand scope of my invention. I desire, therefore, that only suchlimitations shall be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. In a switching device, the combination with a control finger and acoperating contact segment, of a supporting frame, a movable carryingmember and position-accentuating means for saidy segment mounted on saidframe, means for movably moimting said finger on said carrying member,and means associated with said position-accentuating means for actuatingsaid finger under predetermined conditions.

2. In a switching device, the combination with a control finger and acoperating contact segment, of position-.accentuating means for saidsegment, and means dependent upon the movement of saidposition-accentuating means for actuating said finger toward and awayfrom' said segment under predetermined conditions and for maintainingcontact -between said finger and said segment during the movement ofsaid position-accentuating device.

3. In a switching device, the combination with a plurality ofcontrolfingers, a control drum and a coperating contact segment disposedthereon, of position-accentuating means for said drum, means forrotatably mounting said fingers on said drum, and means interposedbetween said position-accentuating means and said mounting means foractuating said fingers respectively toward and away from said segmentupon predetermined forward and backward movement of the segment.

4. In a switching device, the combination with a plurality of controlfingers, a control drum and a coperating contact segment disposedthereon, of means for rotatably mounting said fingers on said drum, anotched member movable with said drum, a pawl adapted to engage thenotched member, and means associated with said pawl for actuating saidfingers under predetermined conditions.

5. In a switching device, the combination with a plurality of controlfingers, a control drum, and a coperating contact segment disposedthereon, of means for rotatably mounting said fingers on said drum, anotched member movable with said drum, a pawl adapted to engage thenotched member, and means dependent upon the movement of said pawl foractuating said fingers toward and away from said segment underpredetermined conditions.

6. In a switching device, the combination with a plurality of controlfingers, a control drum, and a coperating contact segment disposedthereon, of means for rotatably mounting said fingers on said drum, anotched member movable with said drum, a pawl adapted to engage thenotched member, and means associated Vwith said pawl for increasing thespeed of contact-making and breaking of said finger.

7. In a switching device, the combination with a plurality of controlfingers, a control drum, and a coperating contact segment disposedthereon, of a notched member movable with said drum, a pawl adapted toengage the notched member, means for rotatably mounting said fingers onsaid drum, and means interposed between said pawl and said mounting`means for actuating said fingers respectively toward and away from saidsegment upon predetermined forward and backward movement of the segment.

8. In a controller, the combination with a plurality of control fingers,a control drum and a coperating Contact segment disposed thereon, of astar-wheel movable with said drum and having a plurality of notchesrespectively corresponding to the several control drum positions, a pawladapted to engage the notched member, a finger-base for said fingersrotatably mounted on said drum, and a mechanical connection between saidpawl and said finger-base for actuating said fingers respectively towardand away from said segment upon movement of the pawl out of and into apredetermined notch of said star-wheel.

9. In a controller, the combination with a plurality of control fingers,a control drum and a coperating contact segment disposed thereon, of' astar-wheel movable with said drum and having a plurality of notchesrespectively corresponding' to the several control-drum positions, thenotch corresponding to off position being deepest, a pawl adapted toengage the notched member, a finger-base for said fingers rotativelymounted on said drum, and a mechanical connection between an arm of saidpawl and said finger-base for actuating said fingers respectively towardand away from said segment upon movement of the pawl out of and intosaid oposition notch to increase the speed of contact-making andbreaking of said control fingers.

10. In a controller, the combination with a stationary supportingmember, a plurality of control fingers, a control drum and a cooperatingcontact segment disposed thereon, of a star-wheel movable with said drumand having a plurality of notches respectively corresponding to theseveral control drum positions, the notch corresponding t0 off positionbeing deepest, a pawl having a roller disposed near one end to engagesaid starwheel and also having an outwardly-proj ecting arm, a biasingspring secured to the opposite end of' the pawl, means for pivotallymounting said pawl near said supporting member at a point opposite saidarm, a finger-base for said fingers rotatively mounted on the controldrum, and a mechanical connection between said pawl arm and saidfinger-base for imparting a rotative movement to said nger-baserespectively toward and away from said Contact segment upon movement ofthe pawl out of and into said off position notch, whereby the speed ofcontactmaking and breaking of said fingers is increased.

11. In a controller, the combination with a control finger and acoperating contact segment, of position-accentuating means and a movablecarrying member for said segment, means for movably mounting said fingeron said carrying member, and a mechanical connection between said meansand said control finger for actuating the finger toward the approachingsegment when contact is to bemade and away from the receding segmentwhen contact is to be broken, whereby the speed of contact-making andbreaking of the control finger is increased.

12. In a controller, the combination with a plurality of controlfingers, a control drum and a contact segment mounted thereon, of astar-wheel movable with said drum and. having a plurality of notchesrespectively corresponding to control-drum positions, a pawl adapted toengage said star-wheel, a finger-base for said fingers rotatably mountedon said drum, and means interposed between said pawl and saidfinger-base for actuating the fingers toward the approaching segmentupon movement of the pawl out of the notch corresponding to the drum offposition and for actuating the fingers away from the receding segmentupon the return of the pawl to said notch.

13. In a switching device, the combination with a contact segment and acoperating contact finger disengaged therefrom when said segment andsaid finger occupy a normal position, of accentuating means for Saidsegment which is adapted to actuate said finger toward said segment whensaid Segment is moved from said normal position.

lll. In a switching device, the combination with a control finger and acoperating Contact segment, of an accentuating cam having a recess, apaWl for coperating with said recess, and means for actuating saidfinger toward said segment when said paWl is moved from said recess.

15. In a controller, the combination with a controlv drum and aKcoperating contact finger rotatably mounted thereon, of a notched membermovable with said drum, and a. pawl adapted to engage said notchedmember and having an outwardly extending arm loosely connected to saidfinger.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 28th dayof Sept., 1915.

LYNN G. RILEY.

